DHAKA: Syrian opposition leaders have been told by Western allies to expect military strikes against president Bashar al-Assad’s regime within days.

According to the report, the Syrian National Coalition (SNC) was told in clear terms that ‘action to deter further use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime could come as early as in the next few days’, reports Al Jazeera.

The report on Tuesday came hours after the British prime minister, David Cameron, announced that he would recall parliament from summer recess to debate the situation in Syria in an emergency session on Thursday.

Cameron’s office said his government was considering a ‘proportionate’ response that would deter Assad from using chemical weapons in the future, following an alleged attack in Damascus last Wednesday that aid agencies said killed at least 355 people and injured more than 3,000.

The Syrian regime denies it was responsible for the attack.

A team of UN inspectors are in the country to collect evidence and speak to victims of the alleged attack near capital Damscus.

The team cancelled plans to revisit the site on Tuesday over security fears, after their convoy came under sniper fire a day earlier.

BDST: 1932 HRS, AUG 27, 2013
RoR/RK